Odisha to open tourist cells in police stations

Bhubaneswar: In a bid to ensure safety of tourists visiting the state, Odisha government has decided to open tourist cells in some selected police stations.

The special cell would be opened on experimental basis in the police stations at Puri Sea Beach, Chandrabhaga, Satapada, Gopalpur, Chandipur, Lingaraj and Nandanaknana and Dhauli in the first phase, Tourism Minister Ashok Panda said.

The tourist cells in police stations would be manned by one Sub-inspector, one ASI and field staff. They would have separate non-khaki dress code, he said.

The home department would impart special training for these personnel to deal with the tourists, the minister said.

Keeping on the success of these tourist cells, the project would be expanded to other places of tourist importance, Panda said.